Bomb scare at MHS ends after three-hour search

Published 8:00 pm, Monday, September 22, 2008

The all-clear for students to resume classes at the Midland High School ended a Monday morning bomb threat evacuation about three hours after it began.

Acting Midland Police Chief Bob Lane reported the search of the school by a Michigan State Police bomb dog and handler from the Bridgeport Post was completed between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m. No bombs were found.

Three notes were found at the beginning of the school day in restrooms at the school, Lane said, adding the first one was discovered by a student who informed staff members.

Midland Public Schools Superintendent Carl Ellinger said the state police bomb handler at the scene shared with him that in his career - spanning more than a decade - he's never been called to a threat situation that was credible.

"Almost always these things turn out to be idle threats," Ellinger said.

After threats are made or found, Ellinger said the staff assess the seriousness of the threat and call the police. Options on next steps can include evacuating buildings, calling for bomb detection dogs or searching for weapons without detection dogs. "I like bringing the dogs in because it's one more base you can cover."

In Monday's case, staff and officers searched the building before the bomb detection dog arrived at the scene, Lane said.

"The last thing we want is for anything to happen to any of our kids," Lane said of the efforts to make sure the building is safe.

Midland High has been popular for threats in the recent past. On Dec. 17, 2007 a threat was called in to the school at 6:28 p.m., on a day the school was closed due to bad weather. A 15-year-old boy was charged in that case. On March 29, 2007, officials evacuated the school after a threat was found written on a bathroom stall at 9:23 a.m. It was the last day of class before spring break.

Ellinger was at the school until all the students were back inside the building, about 10 a.m., and said he saw less reaction from students than during the December threat. He said the high school principal, Michael Frazee, was up front with the students, telling them there was a bomb threat and asking them to evacuate.

"I think they have confidence in how we handled this," Ellinger said. "I think that sends the right message to students and parents."

While ushering students back into the building, Frazee told students over the PA system that the threat was a hoax. Ellinger said post-threat, staff made it a priority to remain visible to students in efforts to maintain a calm atmosphere.

Frazee also sent a letter home with students to explain what occurred.

"I'm very proud of our staff and students in terms of how they handled this," Ellinger said.

While Lane wasn't sure of the monetary cost of responding to the incident, he did say it took valuable resources - road officers, the dog and its handler - away from handling other crimes.

The cost to law enforcement wasn't the only loss of the day.

"That was quite disruptive to their day," Ellinger said of the students who lost out on classroom time.

Ellinger said police had leads into the threats. There will be severe consequences for the perpetrator, he added.